No one responded. Tyler raised his voice. She attacked me. Maya turned. David watched the transformation happen almost instantly.
The aggressor disappeared. The victim took his place. Tyler held up his wrist as if displaying an injury. I didn't even touch her. A murmur moved through the room.
Maya stared at him. For one second, even she seemed surprised by the boldness of the lie. Linda was the first to speak. You grabbed her by the hair. Tyler pointed at Maya.
She twisted my arm after you put your hands on her. Linda said. His eyes narrowed. You stay out of this. David stepped between them.
That's enough. Tyler looked at the campus safety uniform and seemed to remember where he was. Good. You're here. She assaulted me.
David's voice remained neutral. I saw part of what happened. Then you saw her attack me. I saw you standing over another student. I saw Miss Brooks tell you to let go.
Tyler's jaw tightened. You didn't see the beginning. Ethan pushed himself slowly upright. I did. Tyler looked toward him.
Ethan's courage lasted about three seconds under that stare. I mean, he shoved me first. Ethan said. Maya was trying to help. Tyler's teammates shifted uncomfortably.
Jason said nothing. His phone was still in his hand. Maya noticed. Tyler did too. Give me that.
Tyler said. Jason frowned. What? Your phone? Why?
You were filming. Jason instinctively took a step back. That was when Dean Susan Miller finally reached them. What happened? Tyler answered before anyone else could.
She attacked me in front of everyone. Susan looked at Maya, then at Ethan's overturned chair, then at Linda, who was still rubbing her arm, then at Tyler's uninjured wrist. Maya, Maya stood. He shoved Ethan. He pushed Linda when she stepped in.
I told him to stop. He grabbed my hair and refused to let go. She put me on the floor. Tyler cut in against the table, Maya said. For less than two seconds, because you're trained, Tyler said.
The words landed strangely. Maya's face changed just slightly. David noticed. So did Susan. Tyler saw it and seized on it.